Valve



DCC- 26, 1967 D. H. THORBURN 3,360,234

VALVE Filed Feb. 25, 1965 J a. 7

, lll

fil/6%? United States Patent O 3,360,234 VALVE David H. Thorburn, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to The Powers Regulator Company, Skokie, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 435,270 6 Claims. (Cl. 251-44) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A flush valve having a vertical cylindrical valve chamber in which a spherical valve member is movably disposed and eifectively separates the valving chamber into a top portion and a bottom portion. The diameter of the spherical valve member is slightly less than the internal diameter of the cylindrical valve chamber so as to provide restricted intercommunication between the top and bottom portions of the valving chamber. The spherical valve member cooperates with the valve seat in the bottom of the cylindrical chamber in order to provide valved communication between the valving chamber bottom portion and the outlet port of the flush valve. An annular cavity in the flush valve casing provides communication between the ilush valve inlet port and the bottom portion of the valving chamber. A restricted passageway interconnects the top portion of the valving chamber and the outlet port. A normally-closed trip valve is serially disposed in the restricted passageway and is adapted to be selectively opened.

This invention relates to valves and, in particular, to selectively operable ush valves.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ilush valve employing a spherical valve member disposed for free vertical movement in a cylindrical valving chamber.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a flush valve which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flush valve having adjustable means for varying the flow-through time period.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flush valve having adjustable means for varying the trip valve ow rate.

It is a speciiic object of the present invention to provide a flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port and defining a vertical cylindrical valving chamber, a spherical valve member movably disposed in the valving chamber and eectively separating the valving chamber into top and bottom portions having restricted intercommunication, a valve seat disposed in the bottom of the cylindrical chamber for cooperating with the spherical valve member to provide valved communication between the valving chamber bottom portion and the outlet port, means providing communication between the inlet port and the bottom portion of the valving chamber, a restricted passageway interconnecting the top portion of the valving chamber and the outlet port, and normally-closed valve means serially disposed in the restricted passageway and adapted to be selectively opened.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of flush valve in closed position..

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 1 in open position.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, it is seen that the ilush valve includes a casing 11 having an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 13 and dening a vertical cylindrical valving chamber 14. The upper portion of the casing 11 includes a top threaded member 15 which is adapted to be unscrewed from the remainder of the casing 11 to permit access to the cylindrical valving chamber 14.

Disposed in the cylindrical valving chamber 14 for free vertical movement is a spherical Valve member 16. The valve member 16 effectively separates the valving chamber 14 into a top portion 17 and a bottom portion 1S. The external diameter of the spherical valve member 16 is slightly less than the internal diameter of the cylindrical valving chamber 14 such that there is restricted intercommunication lbetween the top portion 17 and the bottom portion 18. The spherical valve member 16 is fabricated of rubber, neoprene, or similar pliable resilient material suitable for valving operation. For proper operation, the specific gravity of the spherical valve member 16 must be greater than the specic gravity of the uid which will flow through the flush valve.

At the bottom of the cylindrical valving chamber 14, the casing 11 defines an annular valve seat 19 for cooperating with the spherical valve member 16 to provide valved communication between the valving chamber bottom portion 14 and the outlet port 13.

An annular cavity 21 defined by the casing 11 adjacent the valve seat 19 provides communication between the inlet port 12 and the valving chamber bottom portion 18. It should be noted that the top of the annular cavity 21 eifectively denes a plane which intersects the axis a-a of the cylindrical valving chamber 14 at a point below the center of the spherical valve member 16 when the spherical valve member 16 is seated on the valve seat 19.

The ilush valve further includes a manually operable trip valve arrangement to initiate opening of the ilush valve. This includes a passageway which interconnects the valving chamber top portion 17 and the outlet port 13 and which is formed by the bore 22, the bore 23, the trip valve chamber 24, and the bore 25.

The bore 22 communicates with the valving chamber top portion 17 and is threaded to receive a compatiblythreaded restriction member 26. The restriction member 26 includes a conical end portion 27 adapted to cooperate with the annular shoulder 28 in the bore 22 to restrict the flow of iiuid into the bore 23 which intersects the bore 22 adjacent the shoulder 28. A threaded cap member 29 screws onto a compatibly-threaded projection 31 of the casing 11 co-axially with the bore 22 to secure an O-ring 32 against the restriction member 26 in order to seal the bore 22. The amount of restriction 5 in the bore 22 is adjusted by inserting a screw-driver into the slot in the outer end of the restriction member 26 screwing the member 26 inwardly or outwardly.

A plug 20 is threaded into the top of the bore 23 to seal it. The opposite end of the bore 23 communicates directly with the trip valve chamber 24.

The inner wall of the trip valve chamber 24 includes a valve seat 33 annularly disposed about the opening of the bore 25 into the trip valve chamber 24. The opposite end of the bore 25 communicates directly with the 5 outlet port 13.

34 and a member 38 which is threaded into the projection 39 of the casing 11. A flexible metal rod 41 is secured at one end in the valve member 34 by a set screw 42 and extends outwardly through a bore 43 in the member 38. A washer 44 disposed between the outer end of the spring 36 and the inner face of the member 38 secures a sealing O-ring 45 about the rod 41 in an annular recess in the inner face of the member 38. The outer end of the rod 41 is secured in a bore 46 of the handle member 47 by a set screw 48 such that the inner face of the handle member 47 is normally held fiat against the outer face of the member 38 by the force of the bias spring 36 in the quiescent position illustrated in FIGURE l. The inner end of the handle member 47 is provided with an annular flange 49 having a rounded rim on which the handle member 47 is adapted to pivot. Pivotal movement of the handle member 47 is limited by a cap Imember 51 which is threaded onto the projecting portion 39 of the casing 11. Specifically, the inwardly depending annular flange 52 of the member 51 defines a circular stop for pivotal movement of the handle member 47. It should be noted that the bore 43 in the member 38 enlarges conically at its outer end while adjacently the inner end of the bore 46 in the handle member 47 enlarges conically at its inner end. The purpose of these opposed conical bore-end configurations is to accommodate bending of the rod 41 when the handle member 47 is pivotally moved.

As stated, the trip valve 30 is biased normally closed and the handle member 47 is biased into a quiescent position. However, when force F is applied to the handle member 47 in a plane substantially normal to its quiescent axis, the handle member 47 is pivote-d on the rounded edge of its annular flange 49 such that the rod 41 and, hence, the valve member 34 are drawn outwardly against the force of the spring 36. Communication is thereby opened between the trip valve chamber 24 and the bore 25 and, hence, between the cylindrical valving chamber top portion 17 and the outlet port 13.

The operation of the flush valve is as follows. In the normally-closed or quiescent state illustrated in FIG- URE l, the trip valve 30 is closed, and the spherical valve member 16 is maintained in its seated position on the valve seat 19 by the upstream fluid pressure present in the inlet port 12 and throughout the valving chamber 14. However, when the trip valve 30 is opened by manually pivoting or rocking the handle member 47 out of its quiescent position, a portion of the fluid above the spherical valve member 16 flows through the restricted passageway formed by the bore 22, the bore 23, the trlp valve chamber 24, and the bore 25 into the outlet port 13, thereby reducing the pressure in the cylindrical valving chamber top portion 17 relative to the pressure in the bottom portion 18 and the annular cavity 21. When the resultant pressure-differential force across the spherical valve member 16 reaches a sufficient magnitude, the spherical valve member 16 is unseated and forced to travel upwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, and fluid flow occurs from the inlet port 12 to the outlet port 13.

When the handle member 47 is released so as to close the trip valve 30, the restricted or leakage flow of fluid around the spherical valve member 16 into the valving chamber top portion 17 causes gradual buid-up of pressure in the top portion 17. Eventually, the pressure-differentia force across the spherical Valve member 16 decreases to the point where it is insufficient to support the weight of the spherical valve member 16, andthe spherical valve member 16 proceeds downwardly and into seated position on the valve seat 19. Once engagement of the spherical valve member 16 with the valve seat 19 is completed, the pressure-differential between the valving chamber top portion 17 and the outlet port maintains the spherical valve member 16 securely seated until such 4 time as the trip valve 3i) is again opened by movement of the handle member 47.

As previously indicated, the restriction member 26 can be adjustably positioned to regulate the flow of fluid from the valving chamber top portion 17. In this way, the time period required for the trip valve 30 to be maintained open before the spherical valve member 16 is unseated can be adjusted. In addition, a set screw 53 in the top portion 15 of the casing 11 can be adjusted to select the point of maximum upward travel of the spherical valve member 16 and, hence, the effective volume of the valving chamber 17 when the flush valve is opened. In this way, the rate of pressure build-up in the valving chamber top portion 17 and, hence, the effective flow-through time period of the flush valve can be selectively varied. To prevent leakage, a removable sealing plug 54 is threaded into the casing top portion 15 above the set screw 53.

Although certain specific embodiments and specific terminology have been used in illustrating and describing the invention, it is to be understood that this is merely by way of example and in no manner to be construed as a limitation. It is contemplated that certain modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve comprising: a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port and defining a vertical cylindrical valving chamber; a spherical valve member disposed in said valving chamber so as to effectively separate said cylindrical valving chamber into top and bottom portions having restricted intercommunication; a valve seat disposed in the bottom of said cylindrical valving chamber for cooperating with said spherical valve member to provide valved communication between said bottom portion of said valving chamber and said outlet port; means providing communication between said inlet port and said bottom portion of said cylindrical valving chamber; a restricted passageway interconnecting said top portion of said cylindrical valving chamber and `said outlet port; a trip valve serially disposed in said restricted passageway; means biasing said trip valve normally closed; and means connected to said trip valve for opening said trip valve in response to the application of external force, said means for opening said trip valve comprising a handle member having an annular flange at its inner end and a flexible rod interconnecting said trip valve and said handle member such that said handle member is biased into a quiescent position by said means for biasing said trip valve and such that the application of external force in a direction substantially normal to the axis of said handle member in its quiescent position causes said handle member to pivot on said annular rounded flange so as to draw said rod outwardly whereby said trip valve is opened.

2. A valve as defined in claim 1 further comprising adjustable means for selecting the point of maximum upward travel of said spherical valve member so as to determine the effective volume of said top portion of said cylindrical valving chamber when said spherical valve member is at its point of maximum upward travel.

3. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said means providing communication between said inlet port and said bottom portion of said cylindrical valving chamber comprise an annular cavity defined by said casing in the side wall of said cylindrical valving chamber, the top of said annular cavity lying in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said cylindrical valving chamber and intersecting said axis at a point below the center of said spherical valve member when said spherical valve member is seated on said valve seat.

4. A valve comprising: a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port and defining a vertical cylindrical valving chamber; a spherical valve member disposed for free vertical movement in said valving chamber, said spherical valve member effectively separating said cylindrical valving chamber into a top portion and a bottom portion, said spherical valve member having an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of said cylindrical valving chamber so as to enable restricted intercommunication between said top and bottom portions of said cylindrical valving chamber; a valve seat disposed in the bottom of said cylindrical valving chamber for cooperating with said spherical valve member to provide valved communication between said bottom portion of said valving chamber and said outlet port; means providing communication between said inlet port and said bottom portion of said cylindrical valving chamber; a passageway interconnecting said top portion of said cylindrical valving chamber and said outlet port; means for adjustably restricting `said passageway; a trip valve serially disposed in said restricted passageway; means biasing said trip valve normally closed; and manually operable means connected to said trip valve for opening said trip valve in response to the application of external force, said manually operable means comprising a handle member having a rounded annular flange portion at its inner end and a flexible rod interconnecting said trip valve and said handle member such that said handle member is biased into a quiescent position by said means for biasing said trip valve and such that the application of external force in a direction normal to said handle member in its quiescent position causes said handle member to pivot on said annular rounded flange so as to draw said rod outwardly whereby said trip valve is opened.

5. A Valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said means providing communication between said inlet port and said bottom portion of said cylindrical valving chamber comprise an annular cavity defined by said casing in the side Wall of said Icylindrical valving chamber, the top of said annular cavity lying in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said cylindrical valving chamber and intersecting said axis at a point below the center of said spherical valve member when said spherical valve member is seated on said valve seat.

6. A valve as defined in claim 5 further comprising adjustable means for selecting upward travel of said spherical valve 'member so as to determine the eiiective volume of said top portion of said cylindrical valving chamber when said spherical valve member is at its point of maximum upward travel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,009 1/1900 Gulland 251-42 2,664,916 1/ 1954 Conley 251-44 X 3,023,997 3/1962 Schultz 251-44 X FOREIGN PATENTS 72,779 11/ 1916 Austria. 608,587 9/ 1948 Great Britain. 65,399 7/ 1913 Switzerland.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

M. O. STRUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VALVE COMPRISING: A CASING HAVING AN INLET PORT AND AN OUTLET PORT AND DEFINING A VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL VALVING CHAMBER; A SPHERICAL VALVE MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID VALVING CHAMBER SO AS TO EFFECTIVELY SEPARATE SAID CYLINDRICAL VALVING CHAMBER INTO TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS HAVING RESTRICTED INTERCOMMUNICATION; A VALVE SEAT DISPOSED IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID CYLINDRICAL VALVING CHAMBER FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID SPHERICAL VALVE MEMBER TO PROVIDE VALVED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID VALVING CHAMBER AND SAID OUTLET PORT; MEANS PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID INLET PORT AND SAID BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL VALVING CHAMBER; A RESTRICTED PASSAGEWAY INTERCONNECTING SAID TOP PORTION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL VALVING CHAMBER AND SAID OUTLET PORT; A TRIP VALVE SERIALLY DISPOSED IN SAID RESTRICTED PASSAGEWAY; MEANS BIASING SAID TRIP VALVE NORMALLY CLOSED; AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TRIP VALVE FOR OPENING SAID TRIP VALVE IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL FORCE, SAID MEANS FOR OPENING SAID TRIP VALVE COMPRISING A HANDLE MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE AT ITS INNER END AND A FLEXIBLE ROD INTERCONNECTING SAID TRIP VALVE AND SAID HANDLE MEMBER SUCH THAT SAID HANDLE MEMBER IS BIASED INTO A QUIESCENT POSITION BY SAID MEANS FOR BIASING SAID TRIP VALVE AND SUCH THAT THE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL FORCE IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER IN ITS QUIESCENT POSITION CAUSES SAID HANDLE MEMBER TO PIVOT ON SAID ANNULAR ROUNDED FLANGE SO AS TO DRAW SAID ROD OUTWARDLY WHEREBY SAID TRIP VALVE IS OPENED. 